Golf club carrier



3 Sheets-Sheet R. BAKER GOLF CLUB CARRIER IN VEN TOR. R/DG WAY BAKER A WORNEY Jan. 11, 1949.

Filed June 26, 1946 Jan. 11, 1949. R BAKER 2,458,924

GOLF CLUB CARRIER Filed June 26, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENT OR .R/DGWAY BAKER ATTORNEY Jan. 11, 1949. R, BAKER 2,458,924

GOLF CLUB .CARRIER Filed June 26, 1.946 s Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR R/DG WAY BAKER Patented Jan. 11 1949 I U NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 4585251 7 v GOLF CLUB CARRIER Ridgway Baker, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application June 26, 194.6, Serial No. 6795403 1 My invention relates to'a readily transportable golf'club carrier and has for its purpose the production of a golf club carrier, provided with widely spaced Wheels and a front support, and meansfor housing said front support and-the elongatediaxl'e sections for the wheels, so that, with the wheels removed and carried within thebag for the golf clubs, the entire assemblage may be brought into the condition of an'ordin'ary golf bag which is carried over the shoulder or in the hand.

Heretofore wheeled carriers for golf clubs have been employed. For many reasons they have proved ineffective. Where the golf bag and the wheeled carrier are separate and independent it has been found almost impossible to move-the carrier to and from the golf'cours'e, and in cases where the golf bag "is secured directly to the wheeled supporting device the support has often been so ineffective that the entire assemblage has been subject to ready tipping over and has been unsightly in appearance and extremely awkward to transport.

I have discovered a simple means of providing long axle sections or a long axle structure with readily removable wheels such that the axles and the front support may be folded upon the bottom part of the golf club carrier and be held within a housing where they are completely sealed from view. In this arrangement the wheels are removed and dropped to the bottom of the golf club'carrying part and the entire arrangement becomes in effect simply anordinary golf "bag to be carried by the hand.

At the same time the arrangement is such that the axles or axle sections may be transversely positioned, the rear support swung into operative position, and the wheels attached in but a moment of time thus immediately transforming the hand-carried golf bag and golf clubs therein to a wheeled golf club carrier.

It is a principal object of my invention, therefore, to provide a golf clubcarrier having a frame constructionto which-may be applied canvas walls in combination with an axle structure and a front support which give the frame, the canvas cover and aset of golf clubs within the chamber formed by the cover; widely spaced three-point support capable of at all times holding the carrier in erect position, exceptwhen tipped forwardly upon the wheel support.

It is a further and highly important object of my invention to provide a split axle upon the outer ends of which wheels are supportedfor ready removal. The wheelswh'en removed are placed in the enclosed compartment of the golf 9 Claims. (Cl. 280-36) 2 clubh'old'er which is of an elongated transverse shape sufficient to hold the Wheels and leave room about them for't'h'e outer ends of the golf clubs.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a metallic cup-like bottom member on the frame and to pivot the axle members to the bottom of said cup-like member at points near their inner ends and so asto swing in 'a' plane parallel with the bottom of the cup-like member.

It is a further object of my invention to form the pivots above noted at points short of and toward the ends of the axle sections such that when they are brought into line transversely the vide a bottom cap member adapted to enclose the axle sect-ions and the front legmember when they have been brought into parallel relation upon the bottom of the cup-like member, and to hinge the cap member at the front end of the cup-like member so that itmay be swung up against it in position to enclose Within it the axle sections and the rear leg member; and toprovide snaps cooperating with the outer margins of the rear of the cap member to hold the same in its closed position enveloping and housing the axle sections and the rear leg member.

It is a further objectof my invention to form at the sides of the cap member recesses adapt-ed to encircle'the axle sectionswhen they are transversely extended, and to provide a spring socket member secured to the-bottom ofthe cap member which will engage and give a grasping, holding pressure upon thetransversely extended axle sections.

It is a further object of my invention to provide at the ends of each of the axle sections, 'which are normally made of hollow tubing, a stub shaft secured to therespec't'ive axle sections. Upon each of'these stub shafts is mounted, one of thewheels, said wheels beingrotatable upon the stub shafts either directly or through roller bearings, together with a spring member at the end of the stub shaft which enables the wheels to be pulled off and put on manually, depressing the spring member, which then snaps in place to hold the-wheels upon the stub shafts.

it is a further object of my invention, as a variant or modification thereof, to form the cap member as an independent unit removable as an entirety from the bottom of the cup-like member and adapted to be held in position thereon by a set of spring clips.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a handle member for pushing or pulling the golf club carrier which has a part so formed on the member cooperating with a part fast on the upper portion of the frame of the golf club carrier such that, by releasing and then tightening a thumb screw, the handle may be held in its upper operative position or may be lowered to a nonextended position when the golf club carrier is used as an ordinary hand-carried golf bag.

The full objects and advantages .of my inven- 7 only.

Fig. 2 is a front end elevation of the golf club carrier shown in Fig. l with the handle in its lowered or non-operative position.

Fig. 3 is an enlargedsectional view taken through an end of one of the axle sections showing the manner of removably mounting the wheels;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the cup-like member at the bottom of the golf club carrier frame, showing the axle sections and the rear le support in retracted non-operative position along the bottom of said cup-like member.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation view of the bottom cup-like member resting upon the wheels and the rear supporting leg, showing the hingedcap member or pan for housing the axle sections with the front leg member partly swung open.

Fig. 6 is, a fragmentary sectional plan view taken from the bottom of the cup-lik member,

showing the manner of hinging the cap member to the front central part thereof.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged side elevation view of the means of securing the pull handle to the upper ring member of the frame in such manner that it may be held up in operative position or down in nonoperative position.

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale showing the inside position of the axle sections and of the rear leg member, with outer parts of the axle sections and the wheels normally thereon not shown.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 3-9 of Fig.7. I

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of my golf club carrier showing a separable cap member or pan in perspective under the same in position to be applied to the bottom of the cup-like member.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line lI-I I of Fig. 10, showing the manner of clipping the rear end of the separable cap member to the cup like member. a a r Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on line I2 -I2 of Fig. 9, showing the manner of clipping the front end of the cap member to the bottom of the cup-like member.

As illustrated, my golf club carrier comprises a frame formed of a top ring I2, a bottom cuplike member I3, and rear and front frame members I4 and I5, as secured at each end to the top ring I2 and the bottom cup-like member I3. The ring member I 2 and the cup member I3 have an elongated cross-sectional shape, such as shown in Fig. 4, and a fabric cover I6 is secured by rivets I1 or otherwise to extend down from the ring member I2 and up from the cup-like member I3.

This cover member will be of standard stiff material which will hold its shape sufficently when so secured without need of additional frame members, and which will give an inner chamber I8, Figs. 1 and 2, of a suitable cross-sectional shape to receive the wheels I9 and 20 when the same have been removed from the axle sections, which will later be described, and also to receive the ends of the golf clubs in a customary manner.

The cup-like base I3 is of the general shape indicated in Figs. 4 and 5. Its bottom H is securely fastened to a rim 22 which has upstanding projections 23 and 24 to which the respective frame uprights I4 and I5 are secured.

As clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 8 the member I3 is of an elongated shape having parallel side walls and an overall length something like two and one-third times its width, and the top ring I2 will have the same dimensional size and shape.

The upright I4 as shown in Fig. '1 is provided with a head 25 which is secured by rivets 26 and 21 to the top ring I2. The head 25 has a projecting portion 28 which is formed with a serrated face 29. A handle member 3|] is provided with a head portion 3| having a correspondingly serrated face 32. A bolt 33 goes through the head portions 28 and 3|. By means of a Wing nut 33 on the threaded end 34 0f bolt 33 the serrated faces 29 and 32 are held firmly together to position the handle 30 either up for active use, as in Fig. l, or down in inactive position, as in Fig. 2.

A pair of tubular axle section 35 and 36 are pivotally held to the bottom plate ZI, Figs. 4, 8 and 9, by pivot bolts 31 which pass through the axle sections 35 and 36 and are secured by fibre lock nuts 38 upon the threaded end of bolt 31, to hold the shaft sufficiently firmly and yet free enough so that it may readily turn upon the bolt 31. A reinforcing U-piece member 39 is shown positioned under the head of bolt 31 to reinforce and steady the axle sections 35 and 36 upon their pivoted bolt supports 31.

The axle sections 35 and 36 have inner end portions All and 4| respectively which extend beyond the Pivot bolts 31 and which, as shown in Fig. 8, have cutaway portions at their rear, indicated at 42. This permits the shaft sections 35 and 36 to be swung inwardly into a parallel position upon the bottom 21, as shown in Fig. 4.

At the same time the end extensions 40 and M are of such a length that when the axle sections 35 and 36 are turned into their transverse wheelsupporting position the non-cutaway parts of the .ends of these extended portions contact, as indicated at 43 in Fig. 8, so that the axle sections then extend at right angles to the central longi tudinal axis of the bottom member ZI and in alignment, for carrying the wheels I9 and 20.

As clearly shown in Fig. 3, the axle sections 35 and 36 have secured in their tubular ends stub shafts 44 which are held to the axle sections by means of rivets 45. The stub shafts are of a diameter equal to that of the interior-of the tubular axle. sections '35 and 36 and extend beyond the ends 46 of saidaxle sections, as indicated in Fig. 8, giving at 46 a. shoulder adjacent which these wheels may be mounted on roller bearings, it that is desired.

As shown, the wheels comprisemet'al side parts 4?! and 43 which expand outwardly and have a tubular bearing portion 49 which engages directly the stub shaft 44. A washer 50 engagesthe abutment 46 on the inside of the wheel and an annular washer 5! which may, if desiredt be fast on wheel section 48, passes over the outer end of stubshaft44.

A spring-held holder button 52 operated byva spring 53 in a socket 54 in stub shaft 44 is adapted to hold each of the wheels l9 and 20. upon its stub but will. yield against the pressure of the spring 7 54 when it is desired to remove thewheel, or to replace it.

In order to do either of these'things it is only necessary to pull on the wheel outwardly and it will spring this button down and come oii. Merely to push on the wheel inwardly will force the button down and let the wheel go into position.

The button member 52 projects far enough so that it will prevent the wheel in normal operation from coming off and yet upon a lateral push will yield with reasonable ease to permit the withdrawal of the wheel.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5 a rear leg '55 is pivotally secured to thebottom 24 by having a flattened head 56 on its end positioned between two cars 51 and 58 fast on the bottom 2|, with a pivot bolt 59 shown in section in Fig. 5 extending through the ears 5'! and 58, and the flattened end of leg member 55 between them.

The head 56 is provided with a projecting part 66, which, as clearly shown in- Fig.5, engages the outside of the bottom wall 2| to hold the leg section 55 extended rearwardly at an angle, and to bring the foot 61 on the bottom of said front leg member into a plane passing under it and under the wheels which is parallel with the bottom 2|. With this arrangement the wheels l9 and and the extended leg section 55 give a three-point support to the golf club carrier.

The axle sections 35 and 36 and the rearwardly' extended foot 6! of the leg member 55 are quite widely separated so that this three-point support holds the golf club carrier securely against anytendency to tip over.

As shown in Fig. 4, these supporting members, the axle sections 35 and 36, and the rear legsupport 55, are all brought into a retracted position parallel with one another upon the bottomll. The same positions are shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8 with the members in their opened or active position.

The purpose of this arrangement is to completely house these parts, so when the golf club carrier is converted into the equivalent of an ordinary golf bag for being carried by the hand, the axle sections and the rear leg supportwill not only be out of active position, but will be fully concealed and housed by means which will now be described.

This housing consists of a bottom pan member 62 which is formed at its rear end with a narrow part 63 to leave edges 64 adapted to receive over. them clips for gripping and holding the pan in closed position as hereinafter described.

The top edges 65 of the pan and the edge 64 of 6. the narrowed portion are adapted to be brought into'oontact With-the bottom wall 2-! of the cuplike bottom member 13. Toenable the end 66, Fig. 5, of the'pan to pass over the head 56 on the rear leg memberand the ears 5? and 58 to which the head 56 is pivoted, the bottom of the pan is cut away as indicated at 61 in Fig. 10. The pan shown in Figs. 5 and 10 is identically thesame, but the manner of connecting these pans with the bottom 2| of cup-like member 22 differs. Inthe form of Fig. 5 cars 68 and 69 are permanentlyatta'c'hed to't'he rear of the walls55' of the panJ62. These ears are spaced apart and receive between them a flange or connector bracket TB which 'ispermanently connected to the bottom wall of the cup-like member l3. A-bolt 12; Fig. 6, extends-through the ears 68: and wand the connector bracket "l-flto hinge the pan 6-2 for swinging movements relatively tothe cuplike bottom member 22,. as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and '6. I

Clipsn and 14' are'secured to the side walls 22 of the'cup-likemember 14 toward. the rear thereof andextend downwardly therefrom.

When the pan 62 is swung'ifrom its open positionof Fig. '5 toclosed position the clips 13 and i4 take over the edges 64. and h'old the pan in fixed. position against thefbottom wall 2! of the cup-like member. 22; in which position. the axle sections 35' and 36 andxthe forward leg member 55 areeffectively-housed and concealed inside of th'e'pan 62.

- The top edgezfiiiof. the pans side walls 65 are cutaway in. semi-circular-bottom notches l5 and i6, as clearly shown-in. Figs. 5 and 10. This is to permit the pan to swing. into position where its'f'upper edges .65 will; contact the bottom wall of'the pan, thexnotches l5 and 16 receiving in them, the shaft sections 35- and' 36 respectively, asclearly shown in Fig. 8. i

As inzFig.5,' the pan. 621s swung downwardly on. itshinges and theaxle sections 35 and 36 pulled out to extend in a line transversely of the cup-like base member; and theleg member 55 is pulled out into normal supporting position, so the: P311262 can bereturnedetothe position it occupies in Figs. 1 9.1161 2. In that position it will then be held by clips 1-3 and 14 against the bot-- tom wall 21, with the axle sections 35 and 36 extending transversely out from under the bottom 21 of? the cup-likemember l3, and with the rear-legsupport extending angularly backward therefrom; 7

It will be apparent from the above description that when the cap or. pan member 52 has been applied to. the bottom 2| of the cup-like member with the axle sections and the rear leg member in the position shown in Fig.4, these members will be completely housed and, with thewheels inside of the chamber 18' of the golf club carrier proper, the device. will be in all respects similar to an ordinary golf bag which is carried. over the shoulder or by thehand of the operator;

so the-description heretofore given of the pan 62 as applied in Fig.5 also maybe given for the pan 62 as applied in Fig. 10. g

'In this latter form the clips Band 14 operating over the edges 64'are unchanged. An additional pair of clips 11 and (Bare applied directly to the front part'of the cup-like member l3. The pan or cap member 62 is provided with openings l9 and 80; Fig.'10, through which the clip members "and 18' extend. I Themanner in which the clip members '13 and H are shown and attached to the cup-like member 13 is shown in Fig 11, where the clip member 14 is shown secured by rivets 8| to the rim 22 of the cup-like member 13. In this figure the clip i4 is shown with a lip 83 which can be pulled past the edge 64 of depressed part 63 of pan 62 to permit the catches proper 84 to snap over said edge and hold the rear end of the pan in its position secured to the bottom 2| of cup-like member 22.

In Fig. 12 is shown a clip 18 secured by rivets 85 to the lip or wall 22 of cup-like member l3. Here a sloping lip 86 on the end of clip I8 slides past the top edge 65 of pair 62 and the clip proper 87 snaps into the opening 80 through wall 65 As has been already described, the axle sections 35 and 36 and their inwardly extended end portions 40 and 4| are of such a length that they contact, as indicated at 43, when the axle sections have been swung to extend outwardly in a straight line. As an additional support against any movement of the axle sections out of their transverse line, I provide the cap or. pan 62 with a spring clip member 88, shown in perspective detail in Fig. 10, and in side elevation section in Fig. 5.

This spring member comprises a plate having flanges 89 and 90 at its respective ends which are riveted to the insideof the top wall of the cap member or pan 62. This plate has extended upwardly from the flanges 89 and 90 a pair of vertical walls 9|. and 92 between which is a semi-circular depressed portion 93. The height of this depressed portion is such that when the cap or pan 62 is restored to its position secured to the cuplike base member the loop portion 93 is forced against the ends 40 and H of the respective axle sections over their point of junction at 43.

As a result the loop portion 53 will grip the axle section ends 40 and 4| with a considerable degree of pressure directly over the point of junction at 43, and will effectively hold such axle sections and the wheels on the ends thereof from any tendency toward lateral or oscillating movements.

The advantages of my invention have fairly well appeared in the foregoing description given in the specification. The primary advantage resides in the fact that my golf club carrier is adapted to be, with very simple and easy changes, both an ordinary hand-carried golf bag and a wheel-supported and wheel-transportable golf carriage.

A particular advantage in this connection resides in the fact that the axle sections at the front of the golf club carrier and the rear leg-supporting member give three-point support on the ground, all of which points are widely separated and hold the golf club carrier with its contained clubs substantially vertical or normal to whatever ground level exists at the point where the golf club carrier is brought to rest.

A further advantage resides in the simpl and yet highly effective manner in which the extended axle sections may have the wheels thereon removed and replaced without the use of any tools, so the wheels can be inserted within th chamber for carrying the clubs whenever it is desired to form the golf club carrier into a normal handsupported golf bag.

A further advantageof my invention in this connection resides in the ease and simplicity with which the extended axle sections and the rear leg support may be changed; and positioned to be brought upon th under surface of the cup-like member which forms the base of the golf club carrier, and may then be connected, housed and concealed by the pan member removably attachable, independently or swingably on a hinge, to the bottom of the said cup-like base member.

A further advantage of my invention is found in the manner in which the axle sections are effectively locked in a transversely extended line across the front of the cup-like base member by means of the contacting ends thereof and the spring clip member which comes under those contacting ends when the cap member or pan is applied in secured position to the bottom wall of the cup-like base member.

A further object of my invention resides in the simple handle structure by means of which the golf club carrier, with its wheels attached, may be pulled or pushed, in practice preferably pulled, over the ground. The particular advantage in this connection being the fact that the handle may be maintained in a wholly inoperative position when the golf club carrier is being employed as a golf bag.

I claim:

1. A golf club carrier comprising an upper ring member, a cup-like base member, a pair of rigid supporting bars extending between the ring member and the base member to form said members into a rigid frame, a pair of axle sections pivotally secured to the lower surface of the base member wholly within the confines of the base member and adapted for rotation in a plane parallel with the base member in such a manner that when in a folded position they rest flat against the lower surface of the base member and when in an operative position they extend on either side of the base member, and an open topped pan hingedly connected to the base member for enclosing said axle sections when the same are in a folded position, said pan having notches in its side walls to receive the axle sections when the same are in an operative position whereby the pan is operative to lock the axle sections against rotative movement when the same are in an operative position.

2. A golf club carrier, comprising a cup-like base member having a bottom wall, means for supporting a set of clubs carried by said base member, a pair of axle sections extending transversely'in a line across the forward part of said base member, pivot bolts securing the axle sections to said bottom wall so they may be rotated about a horizontal axis to be moved into parallelism within the limits of and contiguous to said bottom wall, said axle sections having their inner ends extended toward each other so when they are extended transversely in a straight line the inner end walls will contact, and removable means for housing and concealing the axle sections when so positioned.

3. A golf club carrier, comprising a cup-like base member having a bottom wall, means for supporting a set of clubs carried by said base member, a pair of axle sections extending transversely in a line across the forward part'of said base member, pivot bolts securing the axle sections to said bottom wall so they may be rotated about a horizontal axis to be moved into parallelism within the limits of and contiguous to said bottom wall, said axle sections having their inner ends extending toward each other so when they are extended transversely in a straight line the inner end walls will contact, removable means for housing and concealing the axle sections when positioned against the said bottom wall, and means carried by said removable means for gripping and clamping the inner ends of the axle sections when they are positioned end to end extending in a line transverse to said base mem ber.

4. A golf club carrier, comprising a cup-like base member having a bottom wall, means for supporting a set of clubs carried by said base member, a pair of axle sections extending transversely in a line across the forward part of said base member, means supporting the axle sections so they may be moved into parallelism with and within the limits of and contiguous to said bottom wall, an open-topped pan hinged at one end to an end of the base member to be moved out of the path of movement of said axle sections when they are moved to bring them within the limits of said bottom wall, and means for holding the pan against said bottom wall to enclose, conceal and house said axle sections when so'positioned.

5. A golf club carrier, comprising a cup-like base member having a bottom Wall, means for supporting a set of clubs carried by said base member, a pair of axle sections exteningtransversely in a line across the forward part of said base member, means supporting the axle sections so they may be moved into parallelism with and within the limits of and contiguous to said bottom wall, an open-topped pan hinged at one end to an end of the base member, said pan having toward its other end recesses in its side walls and flat portions at the bottoms of said recesses, a pair of spring clips secured to the base member and adapted to snap over the edges of said flat portions, whereby the pan may be moved out of the path of movement of said axle sections when they are moved to bring them within the limits of said bottom walls, and the pan may be positioned and held to enclose, conceal and house said axle sections.

6. A golf club carrier, comprising a cup-like base member having a bottom wall, means for supporting a set of clubs carried by said base member, a pair of axle sections extending transversely in a line across the forward part of said base member, means supporting the axle sections so they may be moved into parallelism with and within the limits of and contiguous to said bottom wall, an open-topped pan hinged at one end to an end of the base member, said pan having toward its other end recesses in its side walls and fiat portions at the bottoms of said recesses, a pair of spring clips secured to the base member and adapted to snap over the edges of said fiat portions, notches formed in the upper edges of the pan walls to receive the axle sections when the same are extended transversely, whereby the pan may be moved out of the path of movement of said axle sections when they are moved to bring them within the limits of said bottom walls, and the pan may be positioned and held to enclose, conceal and house said axle sections.

7. A golf club carrier, comprising a frame formed of a cup-like member having aj bottom wall at the lower end and a ring member at the upper end and a pair of vertical supports connected respectively at the ends of the basevmember and the ring member, a flexible member secured to the base member and the cup member to form a chamber, axle sections pivoted to move in a horizontal plane to be positioned transversely of the bottom Wall toward the front thereof, a removable Wheel on each axle section, whereby a wheeled golf club carrier is provided and whereby the wheels may be removed and stored in said chamber and the axle sections be moved into parallelism within the limits of and contiguous to said bottom wall, and removable means for housing and concealing the axle sections when so positioned to form a non-wheel-supported golf bag to be carried by the hand.

8. A galf club carrier, comprising a frame formed of a cup-like member having a bottom wall at the lower end and a ring member at the upper end and a pair of vertical supports connected respectively at the ends of the base member and the ring member, a flexible member secured to the base member and the cup member to form a chamber, axle sections pivoted to move in a horizontal plane to be positioned transversely of the bottom wall toward the front thereof, a rear leg support pivotally mounted on the rear end of the base, means permitting movement of said leg support against'said bottom Wall, a removable wheel on each axle section, whereby a wheeled golf club carrier is provided and whereby the wheels may be removed and stored in said chamber and the axle sections and rear leg support be moved into parallelism with the limits of and contiguous to said bottom wall, and removable means for housing and concealing the axle sections and leg support when so positioned to form a non-wheel-supported golf bag to be carried in the customary manner.

9. A golf club carrier, comprising a frame formed of a cup-like member having a bottom wall at the lower end and a ring member at the upper end and a pair of vertical supports connected respectively at the ends of the base member and the ring member, a flexible member secured to the base member and the cup member to form a chamber, axle sections pivoted to move in a horizontal plane to be positioned transversely of the bottom wall toward the front thereof, a removable wheel on each axle section, a rear leg support pivotally mounted on the rear end of the base to extend angularly outwardly to act in conjunction with the wheels to support the golf club carrier in vertical position, a handle supported upon the front end of the ring member at the upper end of one of the supports, said handle being connected thereto by complimentary serrated heads and means to lock the heads together to hold the handle in an outwardly extending operative position or downwardly along and in contact with the front frame support.

RIDGWAY BAKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,418,243 Forde May 30, 1922 2,221,111 Sayles Nov. 12, 1940 

